07/11/2019 The Republic of Uzbekistan is due to hold parliamentary elections on 22 December 2019, the first to be held under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The international community will be watching proceedings closely through the usual network of international observers and organisations. The main objectives of the observation will be to determine the current strength and
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06/11/2019 On 7 October 2019, the hearing of the Executive Vice President-Designate – with the specific portfolio of “Europe Fit for the Digital Age” – Margrethe Vestager took place in the European Parliament. During the hearing, Vestager, who will hold the double portfolio “digital and competitiveness”, stressed how in the digital field the EU should
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06/11/2019 From 2 to 4 November 2019, Bangkok hosted the 35th ASEAN Summit. The Summit consisted of a series of high-level meetings between ASEAN and dignitaries from international organisations such as the UN and the IMF, as well as from neighbouring and global powers. This four-day event served as a central platform to discuss and
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04/11/2019 The 2019 Sri Lankan Presidential Election will be the eighth Presidential election. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), a socially right-wing and economically left-wing party rooted in Sinhalese nationalism and social democracy, will run against the main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa from the centre-right United National Party (UNP). Both candidates are
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31/10/2019 On 29 October 2019, EIAS welcomed a delegation of Pakistani senior officials as part of the Pakistani senior civil servants’ National Management Course (NMC). EIAS Advisory Board Member Dr Amb (rtd) Alexander Spachis gave a presentation on the EU’s current approach toward security and defence challenges. In his speech, Dr Spachis emphasised the importance
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31/10/2019 1 October 2019 marked the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The event was accompanied by lustrous celebrations in Beijing, including evening galas, fireworks over Tiananmen Square, aircraft formation of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army flying over Beijing and an imposing civilian and military parade. In fact, it
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25/10/2019 On 17 October 2019, the Security and Foreign Affairs Department of the European Union and the Ministry of National Defence of Viet Nam signed a Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) in Brussels. The Agreement defines the conditions for Viet Nam’s participation in EU crisis management operations, 16 of which are already taking place around the
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24/10/2019 On 18 October 2019, EIAS welcomed a delegation of ASEAN diplomats as part of the Clingendael Institute’s ASEAN Diplomat Training Programme. EIAS Senior Associate Mr Xavier Nuttin gave a presentation on “Comparative European Perspectives on ASEAN Regional Integration”. Considering that regional integration generally suffers from a democratic deficit, Mr Nuttin highlighted the many differences,
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17/10/2019 On 11 October 2019, the Conference entitled “The EU-China Digital Connectivity: Opportunities and Challenges” was held at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels. The event was organised by the College of Europe and gathered several international academics, professionals and policymakers to discuss the future developments of EU-China digital collaboration, including related security
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17/10/2019 On 14 September Uzbekistan formally ratified the Nakhchivan Agreement and applied to become a full member of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States or Turkic Council. Exactly one month later on 14 and 15 October Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the 7th Summit of the Turkic Council in Baku. This summit marks the
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